Avi Rothbard
Avi Rothbard is a well-respected guitarist in New York City's vibrant jazz scene. Originally from Israel, Avi earned a scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he honed his craft and received several top honors, including the Jimi Hendrix Award, the Boston Jazz Award, and the William Leavitt Award.
After finishing his studies at Berklee, Avi moved to New York City in the summer of 1999—a decision that marked the beginning of a long and active career in one of the world’s jazz capitals. He later completed a Master of Arts in Jazz Studies at the City College of New York (CUNY), deepening both his musical knowledge and his ties to the city’s jazz community.
Over the years, Avi has played regularly at clubs and venues throughout NYC and the tri-state area. His path has led him to perform and record with a wide range of notable artists, including Ben Riley, Freddy Cole, Jeremy Pelt, Wayne Escoffery, Gregory Porter, Ray Drummond, and Jay Leonhart, among others.
In addition to performing, Avi has been recognized for his work as a composer. He won the John Lennon Songwriting Award in 2014 and the USA Songwriting Competition in 2019, both in the jazz category. His playing was also featured in Scott Yanow’s book The Great Jazz Guitarists: The Ultimate Guide.